Bishop Daniel will preside over a special outdoor celebration on the evening of Saturday, February 13: the eve of the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation to the Temple (Dyarnuntarach).
The event will begin with a brief prayer service in New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral, beginning at 6 p.m. But then the festivities will move outside to the cathedral plaza, where a traditional bonfire lighting ceremony will take place, with participants gathering around in a suitably distanced manner.
The Armenian Church has an age-old custom of lighting bonfires on the evening prior to Presentation Day. In Armenia, hardy souls, young couples, and families brave the frigid February night by circling around large fires. For the past few years, churchgoers in New York have experienced their own version of the traditional bonfire on the plaza of St. Vartan Cathedral.
“In this dark time of the year—indeed, after a dark year for us all—this ceremony, derived from a beautiful gospel story (Luke 2:21-40), reminds us that Christ is the Light of the world, the Light for all nations,” said Bishop Daniel. “Standing by the fire in front of the House of the Lord, in the presence of our loved ones, we remember the warmth of God’s love for humankind, which He showed by giving us His infant son.”
As an outdoor event, worshippers—especially young adult faithful—may feel more comfortable attending in person, to “present themselves” to the Lord on the evening of February 13. The usual pandemic precautions will be observed, of course. Click here to view a flyer for the event on the cathedral plaza. And see below for additional information.
The indoor and outdoor events will be broadcast over the Facebook pages of the cathedral and Vemkar. You can learn more about the Dyarnuntarach bonfire tradition in this video from the Bread & Salt series: “Over the Fire.”
Three Feasts Over Four Days
St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City will mark three holy days in quick succession from February 11 through 14. The cathedral will be open to worshippers during these feasts, with services going forward in strict compliance with local regulations regarding public gatherings, which includes mask-earing, social-distancing, and limits on the number of worshippers permitted in the sanctuary. (Click here to read the guidelines for the public.)
On Thursday, February 11, the Sts. Vartanantz Day Divine Liturgy will begin at 6 p.m., celebrated by Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian. Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan will preside over the celebration. A short program will follow in the sanctuary, featuring guest speaker Kathryn Ashbahian and a musical performance by Hasmik Mekhanejian and Christopher Nazarian. Due to the city’s pandemic restrictions, there will be no reception.
Bishop Daniel will also preside over the celebrations of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple, or Dyarnuntarach. On Saturday, February 13, at 6 p.m., the special “anticipatory service” will take place in the cathedral sanctuary, followed by a traditional bonfire lighting ceremony on the cathedral plaza. (See above for details.)
On the feast day itself—Sunday, February 14—the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the cathedral beginning at 10 a.m. Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian will be the celebrant and preacher of the day.
Services for all occasions will be broadcast live over the St. Vartan Cathedral Facebook page. St. Vartan Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue (corner of 34th Street), in New York City.